He has since co-written and directed films such as the Rocky series spinoff, Creed (2015), and the Marvel film Black Panther (2018), the latter of which broke numerous box office records and became the highest-grossing film of all time by an African American director.[3] Coogler also co-wrote and directed its sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).
Coogler's films have received widespread acclaim and commercial success.[4] His work has been hailed by critics for centering on often overlooked cultures and characters—most notably African Americans.[5][6] He frequently collaborates with actor Michael B. Jordan, who appeared in all five feature films directed by Coogler, as well as composer Ludwig Göransson, who has scored all of his films.[7]
In 2013, he was included on Time's list of the 30 people under 30 who are changing the world.[8] In 2018, Coogler was named the runner-up of Time'sPerson of the Year and he was included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.[9] In 2021, Coogler, his wife, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian founded multimedia company Proximity Media to create event-driven content across various platforms.[10]
After Saint Mary's canceled its football program in March 2004,[19] Coogler transferred and earned a scholarship to Sacramento State, where he had 112 receptions for 1,213 yards and 6 touchdowns during his four years playing football.[20] At Sacramento, he obtained a bachelor's degree in finance and also took as many film classes as he could fit in with the rigors of college football. Following graduation, he was accepted into the highly competitive three-year master's program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he made a series of short films.[21][11]
Career
2000s: Early career
While at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Coogler directed four short films, three of which won or were nominated for various awards. Locks (2009) screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and won the Dana and Albert Broccoli Award for Filmmaking Excellence. Fig (2011), written by Alex George Pickering, won the HBO Short Film Competition at the American Black Film Festival, the DGA Student Film Award, and was nominated for Outstanding Independent Short Film at the Black Reel Awards. Gap (2011), written by Carol S. Lashof, won the Jack Nicholson Award for Achievement in Directing.[citation needed]
Coogler accepts the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic with the crew of Fruitvale Station at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
In 2013, Coogler wrote and directed his first feature-length film, Fruitvale Station (originally titled Fruitvale), which told the story of the last 24 hours of the life of Oscar Grant (played by Michael B. Jordan), who was shot to death by a police officer at Oakland's FruitvaleBART station on January 1, 2009. Produced by Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker,[22] the film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the top Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize in the dramatic competition and was released in theatres on July 20, 2013. Made on a budget of $900,000, the film grossed over $17 million worldwide after its theatrical run.[23][24][25]
Coogler in 2013
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called the film "a gut punch of a movie" and "an unstoppable cinematic force".[26]A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote that Coogler's "hand-held shooting style evokes the spiritually alert naturalism of Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne".[27]Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter called it "a compelling debut" and "a powerful dramatic feature film".[28] On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a score of 94% based on 195 reviews, with a critical consensus that reads: "Passionate and powerfully acted, Fruitvale Station serves as a celebration of life, a condemnation of death, and a triumph for star Michael B. Jordan."[29] The film appeared on several critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2013.[30]
Upon release, the film grossed $1.3 billion worldwide and broke numerous box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film directed by an African-American director, the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time and the second-highest-grossing film of 2018. Black Panther received critical acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus reads, "Black Panther elevates superhero cinema to thrilling new heights while telling one of the MCU's most absorbing stories—and introducing some of its most fully realized characters."[40] The film was also noted for its representation of African-Americans and subject matter related to Afrofuturism.[41]
That same year, Coogler served as co-producer on the Space Jam sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring LeBron James.[43] The film received generally mixed-to-negative reviews and was a financial failure, grossing $163.7 million worldwide on a budget of $150 million.
Coogler served as co-writer and director on the Black Panther sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which was released in the United States on November 11, 2022. It was a critical and commercial success, being nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one. [44][45]
Coogler served as an executive producer on Creed II, and wrote the story outline for Creed III.[49]
In February 2021, Coogler's production company Proximity Media signed an exclusive five-year deal with Disney to produce content for them, which includes a Disney+ television series based in Black Panther's home country of Wakanda.[50] Proximity will also co-produce the Marvel series Ironheart for the streaming service; star Dominique Thorne had debuted as the titular character in Wakanda Forever.[51] More recently, former HBO executive Kalia Booker had joined the television arm of Proximity Media.[52]
In January 2024, it was announced Coogler will work with Jordan for a fifth time on Sinners, a supernatural horror film. The film will be released in theatres on March 7, 2025, by Warner Bros. Pictures.[53]
In November 2024, Denzel Washington stated that Coogler is currently writing the script for Black Panther 3 and he has been cast in an undisclosed role.[54]
Personal life
Coogler has worked since age 21 as a counselor with incarcerated youth at San Francisco's Juvenile Hall, following in the footsteps of his father, who has long shared the same occupation.[55] Coogler is also a founding member[56] and supporter of the Blackout For Human Rights campaign, which is committed to addressing racial and human rights violations happening throughout the United States.[57]
Coogler married Zinzi Evans in 2016, with whom he has two children.[58]
^ abcdFilmmaker avoids tragic life plotline Dave Newhouse. Bay Area News Group. East Bay Times. December 17, 2007. Updated August 17, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2020
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